Vacuum cap for smokers&#39; pipes



Patented July 20, 1926.

narra sra-ras Q 3i it? il QE.

GEORGE H. XVILSON, OFLOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AppljcationiIed June 29, 1925,. Serial No. 40,307. 1,

The object of the invention is to proijideL a cap for sealing in-iiirerproof manner the top of the bowl of the pipe, thereby rendering the use of the pipe safe about barns and garages, said cap being provided with a chamber above the bowl, the joint between the cap and the pipe being close enough to cause the creation ot a partial vacuum within the cap by draft upon the pipe, resulting in a number of advantageous features from the smokers point of view, among which are improvement in the combustion of the tobacco, coolness of .the smoke, reduction in the amount of cake collecting upon the sid-es of the bowl, and regulation of the rapidity of the combustion according to the grade' of' the tobacco.

In the drawings Figure l is a sectional elevation of one forni of the vacuum cap, the pipe to which it is applied being shown in broken lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a'perspective view showing the underneath side.

Figure '4l is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the latter form showing the under side thereof.

Referring now in detail to the several fig` ures, the numeral l represents a cap having iinperforate top and side walls arranged to lit tightly upon the upper end of the bowl of a pipe, as shown. In Figure l the cap is shown as internally threaded at 2 and as screwing upon corresponding threads formed externally7 of the pipe bowl. In Figure 4 the skirt 3 of the cap is shown as not threaded, being designed to fit upon the bowl of the pipe with frictional engagement. ln either case the fit is presumed to be so tight that while the entrance of a little air is permitted, the amount admitted is insuiiicient to prevent the formation of a partial vacuum in the cap when suction is applied to the pipe stem. A partition 4C extends across the interior of the cap forming between said partition and the top wall of the cap a vacuum chamber 5. The partition 4 preferably, but not necessarily, rests upon the upper end of the pipe bowl. Said partition is formed with an aperture 6 and the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of caps having partitions with y areas, the object of which will shortly appear. Y TWhen the smoker draws upon thev stem 7 of; the pipe the' air inthe vacuum chamber 5 is attenuated, causinga partial vacuum.

apertures of different.

In its downward passage through the tobacco i the air exhausted from the chamber 5 promotes and supports combustion. Then the smoker opens his mouth to release the smoke there is an in-rush of cool air through the stem of the pipe and through the body of tobacco in the bowl into the vacuum chamber. Not only is combustion 4of the tobacco thereby assisted and sustained, but between each draft of smoke through the stem, there is an alternate back draft of cool air, cooling the stein and adjacent parts of the pipe thereby adding to the comfort of the smoke. A cooling of the air is also promoted to some extent by the adiabatic eX- pansion of the air into the vacuum chamber.

The rate of flow of the tidal surge of air into and out of the vacuum chamber depends upon the size ofthe aperture 6. When there is very little licorice in the tobacco or where it is more or less dry, a cap having a small aperture 6 is selected since this size is adapted for slow combustion. `Where the tobacco is moist, a cap with a larger aperture may be used, the velocity 0f flow of air through the combustion chamber in both directions being thereby increased with a corresponding acceleration of combustion.

For convenience in removing the cap to till the pipe I have shown it provided with a knul-led grip 8.

lt is obvious that while my invention is simple in construction, yet there are numer` ous ways in which the inventive principle may be physically embodied without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what lf claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An attachment for smoking pipes, comprising a cap constructed to enclose a vacuum chamber within said cap above the level of the upper edge of the bowl of said pipe, the cap fitting the bowl with suiiicient tightness to prevent the entrance of air to the pipe bowl in suliicient quantity to prevent the formation of a partial vacuum within said cap when suction is applied to the pipe stem.

2. An attachment for smoking pipes, comprising' a cap fitting the bowl of the pipe with sufficient tightness to prevent the entrance of air to the pipe bowl in Sufficient quantity to prevent the formation of a partial vacuum Within said cap when suction is applied to the pipe stem, and provided with u. partition extending thereacross deiining a chamber between Said partition and the wall of Said cap, said partit-ion being formed with a restricted aperture establishing communication between said chamber and the bowl of said pipe.

3. An attachment, for smoking pipes, comprising a cap adapted to Jform a closure for the bowl oi a pipe, said cap fitting the bowl With suiiieient tighness to prevent the entrance of air to the pipe bowl in snliicient quantity to prevent the formation ot' a partial Vacunm Within said cap when suction is applied to the pipe stem, said Cap being' provided With a partition extending thereaeioss dviining a chamber between said partition and the top Wall of said cap, said partition being: adapted to seat upon the top oi said bowl and having a restricted aperture establishingcommunication between said vlnnnbei' and bowl.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE H. VILSOT. 

